Manifold construction



y 4, 1965 P. w. KEPPLER 3,181,484

MANIFOLD CONSTRUCTION Filed May 3, 1962 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. flwwkMLLIAM Krpmsayne-rs y 4, 1965 F. w. KEPPLER MANIFOLD CONSTRUCTION 3Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 3, 1962 INVENTOR. EQMK Mum KsPpLslaillllllu 3Sheets-Sheet May 4, 1965 F. w. KEPPLER MANIFOLD CONSTRUCTION Filed May5, 1962 INVENTOR. @404 WILL/4M KEPPLQ BY 8 ww/mz aww United StatesPatent lice 3 ,l3 l,4 8 4 Patented May 4:, 1955 3,181,484 MANIFOLDCGNSTRUCTIGN Frank W. Keppler, Plainview, N.Y., assignor to NorhuteCorporation, New York, N.Y., a corporation of Delaware Filed May 3, 1%2,Ser. No. 192,245 3 Claims. (Cl. 108-50) This invention relates tofunctional laboratory equipment and more particularly to compoundmanifold reagent shelves. Persons skilled in the art will realize thenecessity of having readily available service lines for use withlaboratory equipment such as center tables, for example. These servicelines are intended to handle gas, air, vacuum, water, and the like,which are always re quired as standard accessories for laboratoryequipment.

Heretofore reagent shelves have been known to utilize a series ofordinary circular pipes disposed in vertical spaced relationship to eachother. The pipes are held in their relative position by means of varioustypes of supporting structures which may be either secured to the top ofthe center table or to a wall stanchion, or the like. Of necessity, thesupporting structure is required to be relatively rigid and must includea large number of individual pipe supporting cleats and specialbrackets.

Reagent shelves are normally provided with a multiplicity of valves,fittings, electrical outlets and the like. Heretofore, when a newfacility was desired or additional outlets were required it wasnecessary to disassemble the particular pipe line involved, cut andthread it, add some fittings, a T, and then add the particular outlet orvalve desired. This of course required complete disassembly andre-assembly of the particular pipe in the service involved and consumedat considerable amount of time.

One of the principal feartures of my invention resides in the provisionof a simple, quick means of altering or rearranging the particularoutlets or valves therein. Also, my invention provides means for readyremoval or addition of entire new service lines. These features, ofcourse, conserve valuable laboratory down time and labor. Further,change-over or adaptation time may be critical due to a sudden change ofevents While in the midst of an important laboratory test.

As a further feature of my invention, I have contributed to the art areagent shelf which brings all of the desired fixture outlets withinclose proximity to the working area while, at the same time, occupyingless space than is normally consumed by such apparatus.

Still another feature is the provision of simple rigid supportingbrackets which are utilized in conjunction with my novel pipe manifoldsso that a desirable reagent shelf may be readily and economicallymanufactured.

In order to achieve the aforementioned features and objects, myinvention contemplates the provision of a compound manifold reagentshelf which may comprise at least two V-shaped brackets laterally spacedfrom one another. The arms of the brackets are provided with elongatedvertical slots which are arranged in alignment with one another. Aplurality of manifolds which are positioned transversely of the V-shapedbrackets extend through the aforementioned slots. Means are provided tointerconnect the manifolds in a vertical tiered or nest-likerelationship so that each directly supports the one above it without theneed for pipe supports, cleats or the like.

There has thus been outlined rather broadly the more important featuresof the invention in order that the detailed description thereof thatfollows may be better understood, and in order that the presentcontribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are, of course,additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafterand which will form the subject of the claims appended hereto. Thoseskilled in the art will appreciate that the conception upon which thisdisclosure is based may readily be utilized as a basis for the designingof other structures for carrying out the several purposes of theinvention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded asincluding such equivalent constructions as do no depart from the spiritand scope of the invention.

A specific embodiment of the invention has been chosen for purposes ofillustration and description, and is shown in the accompanying drawings,forming a part of the specification, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a compound manifold reagentshelf installed upon a center tablein accordance with my inventiveconcept;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation showing one embodiment of my invention;

FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken along line 4-4 ofFIG. 2; and

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the manifold nesting aspect of myinvention.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, FIGS. 1 and 2 show a compoundmanifold reagent shelf generally designated by the numeral 10. Thereagent shelf is suitably mounted upon a center table 12 by means ofbolts or the like (not shown). Other forms of installations employing myinventive concept might include mounting the reagent shelf upon a sidewall table or securing same to the side wall of a room, for example. Twosupporting V-shaped brackets 14 and 16 have arms 18, 2t and 22, 24,respectively, supporting the upper shelf 26. Any commercially availablefastening means may be employed to secure the upper shelf 26 to theV-shaped brackets 14 and 16, such as bolts 27, for example. Each arm isformed with elongated vertical slots 19, 21 and 23, 25, respectively.These slots are in lateral alignment with each other and are allsubstantially positioned within the same plane for a purpose which willbe more fully discussed hereinafter.

The base portion of the center table 12 may incorporate portable mobileunits 28 which may be rolled about the laboratory as desired. Drawers,shelves, cupboards or the like could be supplied in the alternative.Ventilating louvers 3%) may be provided at one end thereof, and a sinkwhich is normally lined with a protective coating for use with chemicalsis generally embedded in the table top. Further, several additional cupsinks 34 and 36 are generally employed. A hot-cold water gooseneckfixture 38 is shown afiixed to the top of the center table 12.

The compound manifold reagent shelf It comprises a series of verticallytiered or stacked manifolds 4h, 42, 44 and 46 which assume a nest-likerelationship with one another. The nest of manifolds is transverselyinserted into the aforementioned vertical slots 19, 21 and 23, 25. Thebottom surface of the slot actsas a base for supporting the lowermostmanifold. Each subsequent manifold is then supported by its next lowermanifold. The width of the slots corresponds to the width of themanifolds so that the vertical edges thereof act as vertical guides,thus, producing a rigid, stable structure which is resistant totransverse forces. It is to be noted that the usual securing fixturesare thereby eliminated. The manifolds 4t), 42, 44 and 46 each serve adifferent purpose, providing access to compressed, air, gas, vacuum,water etc. as desired. Valves or fittings may be affixed to thismanifold at any convenient position on the front side or the back sideor the bottom thereof as desired. Tapered pet cocks 54, 56, 58-, as and62 are illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3 by way of example. The manifold wallsare of sufiicient width so that the fittings may be connected 'to themanifold by means of drilling and tapping the manifold in a manner whichwill be more fully discussed presently.

The ends of each manifold are provided with reducer bushings whichincorporate linear alignment buttons 64, 66, 68 and 70 for extending themanifold linearly. This might be advantageous when several center orwall tables are'placed together end to end. One end of the manifolds isillustrated with a cover plate 72 which provides a pressure andvapor-tight joint with the aforementioned manifolds. Inlet conduits 74,76, 78 lead from a supply source (not shown) to their respectivemanifolds. While the inlets are illustrated close to the ends of theirrespective manifolds, they may be positioned at any point on the entitlelength thereof, as convenience mfay plrescribe. Extending parallel tosaid manifolds is an electrical conduit 48 which supplies electricalpower to the duplex outlets 50 and 52. a

Referring now to FIG. 3 it can be readily seen that a multiplicity offittings or valves 80 may be disposed at a number of different positionsaround the manifold and installed in close proximity-one to the other tosuit the operators specific requirements. It is to be noted that a valvecan be connected directly to the manifold, thereby eliminating extraadapter fittings and thus'allowing said valves to be spaced closetogether. Referring now to FIGS. 4 and where the tiering or nestingarrangement is shown in greater detail, manifold 42 has twosubstantially fiat side surfaces 82, 84 which have centrally locatedV-shaped slots 86, 88 to indicate the center line of the manifold tofacilitate drilling and tapping in the, field. The manifolds may bemanufactured from any suitable materialsuch as aluminum, for example,and they are contoured in such a manner so that they are readilyproduced by an extrusion process. This is an'important element of thepresent concept and permits economical production.

The manifolds are provided with a substantially circular longitudinalinterior cavity 90 which contains the gas, air, vacuum, water, orwhatever other vapors or liquids are desired. The cavity has asubstantially circular cross sectional configuration inorder to providestructural strength when handling the aforementioned elements and whenthe same are subjected to pressure. Further, the interior cavity may beprovided with a suitable liner 92 for use with special corrosivechemicals or in cases wherethe manifold is subjected to hightemperature. The manifold 42 is provided with a lower male side portion94 which comprises a flat elongated central zone 96. One corner ofsaidmale portion has a stepped contour consisting of risers 98, and 100 withan intermediate step 102. Likewise, the second corner includes tworisers 99 and 101 with an intermediate step 103. Risers 98 and 100areinclined outwardly at an angle of 45, however, any angle of the orderof from 20 to 80 would be within my inventive concept. The step portion102is relatively narrow. and substantially parallel to the flat centralzone 96. The manifold'42 has an upper female side portion 104 and arecessed central zone 106 which is parallel to-and substantially thesame length as the central zone 96 of the male side portion 94. Twotrapezoid shaped corner zones 108, 110 Whose non-parallel sides, 112,114 and 116, 118, respectively, assume an angle substantially equal tothe angle of the aforementioned risers Thus, it will be seen that whenthe'manifolds are stacked together in a nest-like assembly as shown inFIG. 5, the non-parallel sides 112, 116 of the trapezoid shaped cornerzones will engage with corresponding risers 98 and 99. It is to be notedthat when the manifolds are stacked together there is an interveningspace between the central zone 96 and its respective recessed 'zone 106.Also, there are intervening spaces between the' step portions 102 and103 and thetop of their respective trapezoids 108 and 110. This'feature'of the present construction provides space for expansion and contractionthickness so that it may be bored and tapped to form a threaded aperture120 which provides for the insertion of a valve 122. Since the sidewallsare uniformly the same thickness throughout their entire length, theymay be bored and tapped at precisely the desired position thereon. Othersuitable pipe fittings such as nipples,

elbows and the like may be utilized, as desired. Of course, when valve122 is not used for a second setup or experiment a suitable plug (notshown) may be inserted in said threaded aperture 120. Pipe thread ormachine screw thread .are both equally suitable so that any style valveor fitting can be readily utilized.

Although a particular embodiment of the invention is herein disclosedfor purposes of explanation, further modifications thereof, after studyof this specification,

will be apparent to those skilled in the art to which the inventionpertains. Reference should accordingly be had to the appended claims indetermining the scope of the invention.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. In a compound manifold reagent shelf of the class described, thecombination comprising at least two brackets each provided withelongated'vertical slots arranged in alignment with one another; aplurality of elongated manifolds positioned transversely of saidbrackets and extending through said slots in vertical nestedrelationship with one another; each of said manifolds comprising a malesideportion having a flat elongated central zone and contoured cornerzones, a female side portion having a recessed flat central zone, one ofsaid side portions be ing formed with stepped corner zones, the other ofsaid side portions being formed with trapezoidal corner zonescomplementary to said stepped corner zones, whereby said male and femalesides of adjacent manifolds are nestable relatively to one another, saidmanifolds being provided with longitudinal through bores, the wallthickness of said conduits being sufficient for drilling and tappingwhereby fittings may be connected thereto for communication withrespective bores therein, and each of said manifolds having asubstantially circular longitudinal interior cavity.

2. In acompound manifold reagent shelf having a supporting table, anupper shelf, inlet conduits, the combination comprising .a plurality ofelongated manifolds,

each manifold having two substantially parallel side faces with aplurality of outlets, a lower male side portion, an upper female sideportion; said manifolds being stacked in averticalnest-like relationshipwith one another with said male side portion being in frictionalengagement with its corresponding adjacent said female portion; two

V-shap'ed brackets each being provided with two inclined arms, said armshaving elongatedvertical slots which are arranged in alignment with oneanother, said manifolds being carried within such slots, and meansconnecting said inlet conduits to said manifolds.

3. In a compound manifold reagent shelf having a supporting table, anupper shelf, inlet conduits, electrical conduits, electrical outletsbeing connected to said conduits, a plurality of elongated manifolds,each of said manifolds comprising two side surfaces having means thereinfor receiving pipe fittings, a lower male side portion, an upper femaleside portion, means for frictionally V interlocking said male portionwithin its corresponding adjacent said female portion in a verticaltier-like relationship with one another, said manifolds having asubstantially circular longitudinal interior cavity, two bracketsprovided with elongated vertical slots, said manifolds 5 6 beingsupported in said slots, end portions of said mani- 2,723,338 11/55Antoni 248-68 X folds having a reduced circumference and being provided2,860,404 11/58 Alden 312-279 X with linear alignment means. FOREIGNPATENTS References Cited by the Examiner 497,432 12/50 Belgiunl UNITEDSTATES PATENTS 5 1852299 4/32 Gray FRANK B. SHERRY, Przmary Examiner.

2,540,353 2/51 Schick 108-92 CHANCELLOR E. HARRIS, Examiner.

2. IN A COMPOUND MANIFOLD REAGENT SHELF HAVING A SUPPORTING TABLE, ANUPPER SHELF, INLET CONDUITS, THE COMBINATION COMPRISING A PLURALITY OFELONGATED MANIFOLDS, EACH MANIFOLD HAVING TWO SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLELSIDE FACES WITH A PLURALITY OF OUTLETS, A LOWER MALE SIDE PORTION, ANUPPER FEMALE SIDE PORTION; SAID MANIFOLDS BEING STACKED IN A VERTICALNEST-LIKE RELATIONSHIP WITH ONE ANOTHER WITH SAID MALE SIDE PORTIONBEING IN FRICTIONAL ENGAGEMENT WITH ITS CORRESPONDING ADJACENT SAIDFEMALE PORTION; TWO V-SHAPED BRACKETS EACH BEING PROVIDED WITH TWOINCLINED ARMS, SAID ARMS HAVING ELONGATED VERTICAL SLOTS WHICH AREARRANGED IN ALIGNMENT WITH ONE ANOTHER, SAID MANIFOLDS BEING CARRIEDWITHIN SUCH SLOTS, AND MEANS CONNECTING SAID INLET CONDUITS TO SAIDMANIFOLDS.